Sander having releasable clip



y 13, 1965 A. A. HUTCHINS 3,183,638

SANDER HAVING RELEASABLE CLIP Filed April 1, 1963 INVENTOR. ALMA A. HUTC N ATT OEHE Y United States Patent 3,183,638 SANDER HAVING RELEASABLE CLIP Alma A. Hutchins, 1302 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, Calif. Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,400 12 Claims. (Cl. 51386) This invention relates to an improved type of hand manipulated sanding device, to which a sheet of abrasive material such as sandpaper may be secured, for performing a sanding operaton on a work piece.

The invention is especially concerned with an improved arrangement for attaching an abrasive sheet to a device of this type, in a manner allowing easy detachment of the sheet from the tool for replacement. A sheet clamping unit formed in accordance with the invention is structurally very simple and inexpensive, and yet functions to retain the abrasive sheet in a more effective manner than has been possible with prior considerably more complex clamping structures. Actuation of the clamp between open and closed positions is effected with maximum facility, and with an extremely simple type of movement.

Preferably, the clamping unit is designed to occupy a very minimum of space, and to avoid projection of any portion of the clamping unit from. the body of the sander to a position in which the clamp might unintentionally contact anddamage or interfere with the work piece on which the sanding operation is being performed. For this purpose, the entire clamp unit may be designed to be essentially flat, in its active clamping condition, and lie closely adjacent the upper surface of the tool body, in a well protected position. Two such clamp units may be provided .at opposite ends of the tool body, for securing opposite ends of the abrasive sheet to the body.

structurally, a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention preferably includes a spring part formed of sheet-form spring material, desirably spring steel, having a first portion which is secured to the body of the tool, and a second portion which is movable resiliently to clamp the abrasive sheet against detachment from the body. This second portion of the spring may have a turned edge which directly engages and tightly clamps the abrasive sheet.

Suitable means are provided for actuating the spring between its active and released positions, which means may consist of an actuating part taking the form of a lever adapted to swing relative to the spring part, and by such swinging movement to actuate that part. The actuating lever may be very simply mountedto the spring part by extension through one or more apertures in that part, with two such apertures desirably being provided for receiving two lugs on the lever. One of these lugs may extend far enough and be accessible enough to serve as a handle for actuating the part in its spring releasing and spring closing directions.

The clamping spring may be secured to the body of the tool in very simple manner, by positioning a portion of the spring between a retaining structure and the tool body. For maximum simplicity, the main handle of the tool may serve as the retaining structure, to clamp a portion of the spring between the handle and the tool body. A fastener, such as a screw, may extend through the tool body and the spring part, and into the handle, to secure all of the parts together. Two such fasteners at opposite ends of the handle may secure two spring fasteners in position, and without further fastening elements serve to retain all of the various parts of the overall assembly together. For locating the springs relative to the handle or other retaining structure, each of the springs may have one or more locating lugs, preferably two such lugs projecting upwardly at opposite sides of the handle.

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The above and other features and objects of the inv'en tion will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a sanding tool constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of the tool;

FIG. 4 illustrates in side view the clamping spring, as it appears prior to attachment to the tool body;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the actuating lever of one of the gripping units; and

FIG. 6 shows one of the gripping units when locked open.

With reference first to FIG. 1, I have showncat 10 a sanding tool constructed in accordance with the invention, and including a body part 11, handle 12, and two identical clamping units 14 for detachably securing an abrasive sheet 15 on the underside of body 11. The abrasive sheet may be simply a conventional strip of sandpaper or the like.

The body 11 of the device is typically illustrated as formed from a planar sheet of rigid sheet metal, though it will be understood that other materials may be employed for this purpose. The presently preferred material is sheet aluminum, of a thickness suflicient to provide an efiective backing for the abrasive material 15 during a sanding operation (for example about one-twelfth of an inch). The body has a planar undersurface 16 and a parallel planar upper surface 17, and in horizontal cross section (see FIG. 3) is rectangular. To the underside of body 11, there may be secured a sheet of cushioning material 18, such as a layer of somewhat resilient resinous plastic material, rubber, or other elastomeric material, whose opposite ends extend upwardly about the ends of body 11 and have short portions 19 at the upper sides of the body. Material 18 is secured to body 11 continuously across the entire area of sheet material 18, as by the provision of an adhesive on the back of that material.

Handle 12 may be formed of hard wood or other suitable rigid material, typically shaped to the illustrated configuration to form a loop by which a user may grasp the handle and thereby hold the tool in use. The handle 12 desirably has a planar undersurface 20 (FIG. 2), which is parallel toand spaced slightly above upper surface 17 of body 11. The handle is secured rigidly to the body by a pair of screws 21, which extend upwardly through openings 22 in body 11 and threadedly connect into handle 12. The screws 21 may be simple wood screws, having fiat heads which are received within countersinks formed in the undersurface of body 11, to be flush with undersurface 16.

Each of the clamping units 14 includes a spring part 23 and an actuating lever or part 24. Spring element 23 is formed of sheet-form spring material, which for best results is spring steel of sufficient thickness to provide, by its resilience, an effective sandpaper retaining action. As seen best in FIG. 3, each part 23 may be considered as formed from a rectangular piece of spring material, defined by two opposite side edges 25, and two transverse edges 26 and 27 which extend parallel to the transverse end edges 28 of body 11. Part 23 may be considered as disposed generally parallel to upper surface 17 of body 11, except adjacent'edge 27, where the spring steel is bent downwardly at a corner 29, to form a short vertical portion 30 terminating in bottom edge 27. The bend line 29 extends parallel to edge 27 and to the end edge 28 of body 11.

Each of the spring parts 23 contains a U-shaped slit or cut 31 (see FIG. 3), whose ends may be enlarged to is of a width corresponding approximately to the width of handle 12, and particularly corresponding to the width of fiat undersurface of the handle, with the opposite ends of the handle projecting to positions overlying the two tabs 33 of the two spring parts 23. Screws 21 extend through openings 34 in tabs 33, to connect to the handle. from the areas designated 35 in FIG. 3, and bent upwardly to form two integral lugs or locating fingers 36, which engage the opposite vertical side surfaces 37 of handle 12 to locate part 23 against lateral movement relative to the handle during assembly of the apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 5, each of the clamp actuating elements 24, may be stamped from a piece of rigid sheet metal, typically steel, having a wedging portion 38 received between the coacting part 23 and upper surface 17 of body 11. At the opposite ends of portion 38, each part 24 has a short integral lug or tab 39 and a longer integral lug or tab 40, which project through a pair'of apertures 41 and 42 respectively in part 23, to locate part 24 relative to part 23. Each lug 39 and has a bend at 43, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, which enables the lugs to lie closely adjacent and essentially parallel to the upper surface of part 23 while portion 38 lies closely adjacent and essentially parallel to the undersurface of part 23, in the active gripping condition of the clamping assembly (the condition of the lefthand assembly in FIG. 2). Lug 40 is long enough to be easily accessible for manual actuation to swingpart 24 between its active and released positions. Referring again to FIG. 5, part 24 has a bottom edge 44 which is adapted to engage and bear downwardly against upper surface 17 of body part 11, and has an upper edge 45 extending parallel to lower edge 44 and engageable upwardly against the undersurface of part 23.

In assembling the device, the actuating levers or parts 24 may first be slipped into their illustrated assembled relationship with respect to parts 23, following which Each of the parts 23 has two portions cut outthe parts 23 and carried levers 24 are moved into proper positions on the upper surfaceof body 11. Handle 12 may then be placed over tabs 33 of the two parts 23, and

between locating projections 36, and screws 21 may then against body 11, so that the resilience of the tabs very tightly presses edges 27 downwardly toward body 11. The cushioning material 18 may of course be adhesively applied to body 11 after the rest of the parts have been (with lever 24 being cammed to its horizontal released position by part 23). If desired, lever 24 may be temporarily locked in an open position by actuation to the slightly overcenter generally vertical position of FIG. 6 (broken lines in FIG. 2), in which position wedging portion 38 has moved far enough to be no longer urged by spring 23 back toward the sandpaper grippingcondition, while further movement of part 24 in the opposite direction is prevented by'engagement of the shoulders formed on part 24 at .43 with element 23, so that the part 24 will remain in its locked position until purposely swung toward closed position.

What isclaimed as new is: p

l. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end, of said sheet thereto, said clip including a springipart made of sheet-form spring material, means attaching a first portion of said spring part to said body, said spring part having a second portion which is movable relative to the. body and is yieldingly urged'by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and a lever part mounted to swing relative to said spring part and said body and having an elongated wedging portion between said spring part and said body operable to wedgethe spring part to. a released'position to enable removal of said abrasive sheet, said lever part having two projections near. opposite ends respectivelyof said elongated wedging portion movably extending through two spaced apertures in said spring part and one of which forms a swinging handle which is manually accessible for shifting said actuating part.

2. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring material, a handle secured to said body for manipulating it during a sanding operation, said spring part having a first portion clamped between said handle and said body, said spring part having a second portion which is-movable relative to the body and is yieldingly'urged bythe resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and operat- 7 ing means for actuating said second portion of said spring assembled, and screws 21 have been secured in position.

In using the device, each of the clamping springs 23 may be actuated upwardly against its own resilience to an open position by swinging the handle portion 40 of the.

associated actuating lever 24 upwardly to the full line position of the part 24 at the right end of FIG. 2. When lever 24 is swung in this manner, the portion 38 of the,

part between active and released positions.

3.A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is tobe secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carriedbysaid bodyfor detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring mate-. rial, said spring part having a tab formed integrally therewith from an inner portion of said sheet-form spring material, a handle secured to the body for manipulating it during a sanding operation, said tab being clamped between said handle and said body, said spring part having a second portion disposed about said tab and secured integrally to one edge thereof and movable relative thereto and having an edge bent toward said body yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material toward the body to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, an actuating part movable relative to said body and said spring part for actuating the latter between active and released positions and having two projections extending through spaced apertures in said spring part to movably connect said actuating part thereto, and a screw extending through said body and said spring part and into said handle to secure-the spring part and handle to the body, said spring part having a pair of upturned locating lugs received at oppositesides of said handle and confining it relative thereto.

4. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring material, a handle secured to and projecting from said body for manipulating it during a sanding operation, said spring part having a first portion clamped beneath said handle and between it and said body, said spring part having a second portion which is movable relative to the body and is yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and operating means for actuating said second portion of said spring part between active and released positions, said spring part having lug means formed thereon projecting upwardly at a side of said handle and locating the spring part laterally relative to said handle.

5. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasivesheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring materail, a handle secured to and projecting upwardly from said body for manipulating it during a sanding operation, said spring part having a first portion clamped beneath said handle and between it and said body, said spring part having a second portion which is movable relative to the body and is yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and operating means for actuating said second portion of said spring part between active and released positions, said spring part having two upwardly projecting lugs formed therefrom and received at and adjacent two opposed sides of said handle to locate the spring part relative to the handle.

6. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably secured an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring material, a handle secured to said body for manipulating it during a sanding operation, said spring part having a first portion clamped between said handle and said body, said spring part having a second portion which is movable relative to the body and is yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, operating means for actuating said second portion of said spring part between active and released postions, and a fastener extending through said body and through said first portion of the spring part and into said handle to secure the handle and spring part to the body.

7. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheetform spring material, said spring part having a tab formed integrally therewith from an inner portion of said sheet-form spring material, means securing said tab to the body, said spring part having a second portion disposed about said tab and secured integrally to one edge thereof and movable relative thereto and yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and operating means for actuating said second portion of said spring part between active and released positions.

8. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring material, said spring part having a tab formed integrally therewith from an inner portion of said sheet form spring material, a retaining structure secured to the body, said tab being clamped rigidly between said retaining structure and said body, said spring part having a second portion disposed about said tab and secured integrally to one edge thereof and movable relative thereto and yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and operating means for actuating said second portion of said spring part between active and released positions.

9. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a' sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring material, said spring part having a tab formed integrally therewith from an inner portion of said sheet-form spring material, means securing said tab to the body, said spring part having a second portion disposed about said tab and secured integrally to one edge thereof and movable relative thereto and yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and operating means for actuating said second portion of said spring part be tween active and released positions, said tab being prestressed to tend to return resiliently to a position beyond a position of lateral alignment with said second portion of the spring part.

10. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring material, said spring part having a tab formed integrally therewith from an inner portion of said sheet form spring material, a handle secured to the body for manipulating it during a sanding operation, said tab being clamped between said handle and said body, said spring part having a second portion disposed about said tab and secured integrally to one edge thereof and movable relative thereto and yieldingly urged by the resilience of said spring material in a direction to releasably clamp said abrasive sheet against detachment, and operating means for actuating said second portion of said spring part between active and released positions.

11. A sander comprising a generally planar carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, a handle secured to the upper side of said body, two fasteners for securing opposite ends respectively of said handle to the body, and two spring parts formed of sheet-form spring material for releasably clamping opposite ends of said abrasive sheet to the body and secured to said body by opposite ends of thehandle respectively, each of said spring parts having a first portion clamped between said handle and said body and a second portion resiliently urged toward the body to clamp said abrasive sheet.

12. A sander comprising a carrier body to which an abrasive sheet is to be secured and adapted to function as a backing member for the sheet during a sanding operation, and a releasable clip carried by said body for detachably securing an end of said sheet thereto, said clip including a spring part made of sheet-form spring material, said spring part having an essentially U-shaped cut formed therein defining a tab formed integrally from an inner portion of said sheet-form spring material, a handle for manipulating said body, means securing said handle rigidly to said body with said tab clamped between H 3,188,688 g E said handle and body, said U-shaped cut defining thereabouta second portion of the spring part extending entirely about the tab and secured integrally to one edge thereof, said second portion being movable relative to the tab and having a clamping edge at aside of said a tab which is opposite the side at which said one edge thereof is formed, said clamping. edge of the spring part being yieldingly urged toward said body to clamp said abrasive sheet thereagainst,and a lever mounted to swing relative to said spring part and body and having a Wedging portion located between said spring part and said body at a location essentially between said tab and said second edge and operable to wedge the spring part to a released position to enable removal of said abrasive sheet, said lever part having at least one projection extending through an aperture-in said spring part and forming a swinging arm which is manually accessible for shifting said-lever part,;said spring part having a pair of upturned locating lugs'received at and adjacent opposite sides of said handle and confining -it relative thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner. UNrTED STATES PATENTS LESTER M. 'SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Examiner. 

2. A SANDER COMPRISING A CARRIER BODY TO WHICH AN ABRASIVE SHEET IS TO BE SECURED AND ADAPTED TO FUNCTION AS A BACKING MEMBER FOR THE SHEET DURING A SANDING OPERATION, AND A RELEASABLE CLIP CARRIED BY SAID BODY FOR DETACHABLY SECURING AN END OF SAID SHEET THERETO, SAID CLIP INCLUDING A SPRING PART MADE OF SHEET-FORM SPRING MATERIAL, A HANDLE SECURED TO SAID BODY FOR MANIPULATING IT DURING A SANDLING OPERATION, SAID SPRING PART HAVING A FIRST PORTION CLAMPED BETWEEN SAID HANDLE AND SAID BODY, SAID SPRING PART HAVING A SECOND PORTION WHICH IS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE BODY AND IS YIELDINGLY URGED BY THE RESILIENCE OF SAID SPRING MATERIAL IN A DIRECTION TO RELEASABLY CLAMP SAID ABRASIVE SHEET AGAINST DETACHMENT, AND OPERATING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SPRING PART BETWEEN ACTIVE AND RELEASED POSITIONS. 